n

n

n

nEditor: Casey

nThe Punishment Hall has always been a solemn place. Due to how severe their methods were, Chi Yun Sect disciples tried their best to avoid being sent here. As a result, this was usually a sparsely populated location.

nHowever, the building was unusually bustling today.

nSome disciples quietly snuck to the door, peering inside to watch the unfolding events.

n“What’s going on? Why are there so many people here today?”

n“Apparently Zhang-shixiong from Chi Xia Peak took a group of people to Qing Jian Peak to beat up their eldest disciple, and they got caught red-handed by Supreme Elder Shi Qing! Then they were all sent here.”

n“What?!!”

nThe information overload only made the disciples more confused.

nThey all knew what kind of person Zhang Paohui was. He has always relied on his grandfather’s position as the supreme elder of Chi Xia Peak to act out.

nBut barging straight into Qing Jian Peak to beat up someone’s eldest disciple was too much, even for him.

nAs soon as someone brought up that point, a well-informed disciple replied, “That’s not all. Supreme Elder Shi Qing didn’t seem to like that Rong-shixiong all that much. Before, when he got hurt, the supreme elder didn’t even let him receive medical treatment!”

n“Zhang-shixiong probably had the guts to go to Qing Jian Peak because of that.” He said, lamenting, “But Zhang-shixiong made too many assumptions. Supreme Elder Shi Qing practically raised Rong-shixiong, so him being harsh was just to make Rong-shixiong mature faster.”

n“How can the relationship between master and disciple crumble overnight? Besides, I saw the look on Supreme Elder Shi Qing’s face earlier… Things aren’t going to end well this time.”

nAlmost everyone who was in the know agreed. They believed that Zhang Paohui was trying to kick Rong Jue while he was down, only for his foot to hit an iron plate instead.

nAnd now here he was, brought straight to the Punishment Hall.

nIt would take a long time to recover from taking fifty cane strokes without using any spiritual energy for protection.

nZhang Paohui was kneeling in the Punishment Hall. The various instruments of torture strewn across the walls made him cry harder.

nHe could admit that he’s done a lot of bad things in the past, and that he really had ill intentions for Rong Jue…

nBut he really didn’t do anything this time, ah!

nThe lackeys that were kneeling behind him were already sobbing loudly.

n“Zhang-shixiong, what should we do now? Someone as weak as me can’t take fifty cane strokes…”

nZhang Paohui didn’t care about his lackeys. He just wanted to save his own cheeks right now.

nWould his butt ever be the same again after fifty strokes…?

nBut even though he was scared to death, he managed to hide any of it from his face. “What are you panicking for? I’ve already crushed my jade slip, so my grandfather is coming to save me. What are you afraid of when we really didn’t do it?”

n“Don’t worry, grandfather will be here in a few moments. We’ll just kneel here for now. It’s not like we’re going to be beaten right away.”

nRight after he finished his sentence, Shi Qing, who was sitting on the elevated platform, placed his teacup down. He quietly said, “Now that the investigation has concluded, start the punishment.”

nZhang Paohui: “……”

nHis lackeys: “……”

nSeeing that the Punishment Hall disciples were really approaching them with their big ass sticks, Zhang Paohui broke down.

n

n

nKneeling on the ground, he wailed, “Supreme Elder, Supreme Elder please have mercy&#k2026; We really didn’t do it&#k2026;”

nBehind Shi Qing, Rong Jue looked on indifferently as Zhang Paohui bawled beneath him.

nThe demon lord seemed to see his past self there. Bruised, battered, and accused of making false statements about his fellow disciples, he was dragged to the Punishment Hall and given 20 cane strokes. Afterwards, he could only lie there on the brink of death.

nAt that time, he still had a trace of hope in his heart.

nHe hoped that his Shizun would come and save him.

nBut in the end, all he received was a bag of money, which nearly killed him later on.

nThe blue-robed supreme elder who was seated above seemed to sense Rong Jue’s peculiar mood. He knitted his eyebrows slightly and turned to face his eldest disciple.

n“Is the Punishment Hall’s spiritual pressure making you feel unwell?”

nThe spiritual pressure of the Punishment Hall was indeed beyond what a mortal could withstand.

nBut Rong Jue wasn’t a mortal.

nHe lowered his eyes and revealed a gentle, warm smile. “Not at all. This disciple was just somewhat saddened to see Zhang-shixiong in this state.”

nShi Qing’s eyebrows rose slightly.

n“Why? He brought this on himself by trying to take advantage when he should not. In this master’s opinion, his punishment isn’t severe enough.”

nRong Jue smiled.

nYes, no punishment was too severe for a person who took advantage when he should not.

nBut what about the person who created the opportunity in the first place? How should they be punished?

nAs they conversed, the punishment below commenced.

nThese young adults who have always been coddled immediately started to howl and scream.

nThe blue-robed supreme elder who was beautiful enough to launch a thousand ships watched this scene coldly.

nBehind him was his seemingly loyal disciple, whose hand landed on his Shizun’s shoulder with overwhelming possessiveness.

nBeneath them, Zhang Paohui yelled, “Aoaoaoao it hurts! Spare me, Supreme Elder, please spare me!! Grandpa, Grandpa save me, ah!!!”

nAfter almost a dozen strokes, a middle-aged man suddenly strode in from outside. “Stop at once!!”

nThe disciples of the Punishment Hall paid their respects to him.

n“Disciples greet the supreme elder.”

nZhang Cheng of Chi Xia Peak finally arrived.

nHe immediately saw his beaten grandson. Heartache and hatred filled his heart as his fierce gaze fell on Shi Qing, who was indifferently looking down at him from above.

n“Supreme Elder Shi Qing is so impressive. You can still remain seated when a fellow supreme elder has arrived.” He said, his gaze shifting to Rong Jue, who was behind Shi Qing.

nZhang Cheng’s mood became even worse. “The apple really doesn’t fall far from the tree. Even your disciple is so unruly.”

nThe corner of Shi Qing’s lips twitched up into a sneer. He waved his sleeve and continued to sit serenely without any intention of getting up.

n“Supreme Elder Zhang Cheng must be joking. You and I are both elders of our peaks. Are you asking me to greet you as a disciple?”

n“My disciple has been severely injured by your grandson. He can only enter this place with my spiritual energy protecting him, but Supreme Elder Zhang Cheng actually wants him to exert himself to greet you? Aren’t the injuries inflicted by your grandson enough?”

nWhile he and Zhang Cheng traded barbs, Rong Jue’s thoughts grew more complicated.

nHis impression was that Shi Qing avoided offending the other supreme elders of Chi Yun Sect because he knew his cultivation was inferior to theirs.

nIt was precisely because of this that Rong Jue despised him so much. He pretended to be a gentle and kind supreme elder to everyone else, but abused his disciple in secret. This kind of person would’ve never gotten his position if it wasn’t for his father.

nBut now, Shi Qing, who had always been careful with his words and actions, was confronting Zhang Cheng, who was also a supreme ruler.

nJust because Rong Jue had been injured.

nRong Jue was shaken, but he still tried to control his burgeoning expectations.

nHeh.

nHow could Shi Qing be doing this for him?

nIf this guy really valued him so highly, then where was he in his last life?

n

n

nWhere was he when the newly mortal and injured Rong Jue was detained at the Punishment Hall, framed and punished?

nThe only reason Shi Qing was here was because his previous provocation worked. This supreme elder was just trying to save face.

nRong Jue wasn’t the only one surprised. Zhang Cheng was also in disbelief that Shi Qing would dare to speak to him like this.

nHis disbelief was followed by anger.

nWould he, Zhang Cheng, be afraid of someone who only became a supreme elder due to nepotism?

nIf Shi Qing didn’t have such a powerful father, how could it be his turn to become Qing Jian Peak’s supreme elder?

nZhang Cheng sneered, “Is Supreme Elder Shi Qing planning to sever relations with my Chi Xia Peak?”

nShi Qing waved his sleeve dismissively. “What is Supreme Elder Zhang Cheng saying? Your grandson intruded into my Qing Jian Peak and plotted to harm my disciple. If we were not both supreme elders, I would have taken care of the problem myself.”

n“I would not have been so kind as to send him to the Punishment Hall like this.”

nZhang Cheng was livid as he looked at his grandson, who was sprawled across the bench. “Paohui, is this true?”

nZhang Paohui: “I…”

nRong Jue suddenly spoke up, “This disciple is willing to swear an oath of internal demons that my words are the truth! Zhang-shidi can do the same. Are you willing to stand behind your statements to my Shizun, that you came to Qing Jian Peak purely to visit me?”

nZhang Paohui: “……”

nHe really didn’t dare to.

nAs he watched his grandson stutter and mumble, Zhang Cheng, who knew his temperament well, flew into a rage.

n“Why would you do such a thoughtless thing?! You’re harming others while also harming yourself!!”

nZhang Paohui: “…I didn’t do it.”

nThe blue-robed supreme elder sitting above rose. “Then swear an oath of internal demons.”

nZhang Paohui: “……”

nZhang Cheng: “Did you do it or not?!”

nZhang Paohui: “……”

nZhang Paohui: “I did…”

nZhang Cheng: “……”

nHe came all the way here only for his grandson to pull the rug from underneath him.

nBut Zhang Cheng has always been protective of his own. Even though he knew his grandson was in the wrong, he didn’t want Zhang Paohui to take all fifty cane strokes.

nHe grit his teeth and straightened, looking up at the blue-robed supreme elder. “Shi Qing, they are just children, and children are prone to fooling around. They meant no real harm. How about this, you know that my Chi Xia Peak specializes in pill refinement. If you let my grandson off, your Qing Jian Peak can have unlimited access to my peak’s pills for the next ten years. So what do you say?”

nDespite his anger, Zhang Cheng had a clear grasp of the situation.

nAlthough he was taking a step back now, he could make Shi Qing pay in the future. After all, Qing Jiang Peak’s future talent prospects were bleak, and Shi Qing himself was only at the Amalgamation stage. What could he possibly do in retaliation?

nThe most important thing now was to save his grandson.

nHe wasn’t wrong to think this way, but the blue-robed supreme elder above didn’t even twitch. His red lips parted slightly, uttering a single word:

n“No.”

n“He bullied my disciple today. I will let the entire Chi Yun Sect know who they can and cannot afford to provoke.”

nThen Shi Qing turned to the disciples of the Punishment Hall. “What are you waiting for? Continue the punishment.”

nHowls resounded through the Punishment Hall once again.

nZhang Cheng’s expression could not be more twisted. He glared at Shi Qing like the blue-robed supreme elder had murdered his father.

nWhen the punishment was over, Zhang Cheng used his spiritual energy to lift his grandson.

n“Fine!! What a fine mess you made, Supreme Elder Shi Qing!! If this is how you want to act, then don’t blame me for taking action! From now on, my Chi Xia Peak will not supply even a single pill to your Qing Jian Peak!!”

nAs he watched the other party walk away, Rong Jue’s feelings became more and more complicated. He carefully pulled on Shi Qing’s sleeve. “Shizun, it’s not worth it to offend Chi Xia Peak for this disciple’s sake.”

nShi Qing was still as cold and aloof as ever. “It has nothing to do with you.”

nThe more he acted like this, the more puzzled Rong Jue’s thoughts became.

nThe demon lord lowered his head to look at the blue sleeve in his hand. He slowly tightened his grip.

nShizun……

nJust what are you thinking?

nMeanwhile, Shi Qing was secretly scheming.

nIn less than three days, he wanted the entire Chi Yun Sect to know that the reason he, Supreme Elder Shi Qing, used pills to raise his cultivation was because he was on the wrong peak.

nHis real talent…

nRested in pill refinement.

n

n